CHE profile of McGinn

Mr. McGinn says he believes that the student later complained about him because she had failed to complete her work over the summer and was wary of receiving a negative report. He does not think that their sexual banter made her uncomfortable.

The student, however, maintains otherwise, according to some of her friends and professors. Before she went to administrators last September, "she was just extremely scared and anxious," says Benjamin M. Yelle, her boyfriend, who is a fifth-year graduate student in philosophy at Miami.

Although she declined to comment for this article, citing her desire to pursue a career in philosophy, Mr. Yelle consulted with her before speaking with The Chronicle. "Sexual harassment is a serious issue in philosophy, and it's not going to stop unless people are willing to stand up against famous philosophers like Colin," he says. It took months, Mr. Yelle adds, for the student to work up the courage to approach the university about Mr. McGinn's behavior.

Mr. McGinn once wrote to the student that they should "have sex three times in my office over the summer when no one else is around," Mr. Yelle says. He also says the professor once suggested that the student should wear shorts more often because he thought her legs were attractive.

Mr. McGinn says he never suggested to the student that they should have sex. He also says he merely told the student that her legs were "muscular." He is unwilling, however, to share the e-mails he sent to the student.